It is a very HOT summer! With all our 100 degree days and lack of rain the summer is taking a toll on plants and lawns. I have had many questions over the past few weeks about how to water, when to water and what to water. Here is some of the advice I have been giving my customers.
How to Water
- Your landscape requires about 1 inch of water a week.
- When you water it is important to saturate the first 3 to 4 inches of soil to reach the plants root zone.
- To saturate the soil around your plants it is best to use a soaker hose or a slow trickle out of a water hose. Don’t just do a quick watering with the hose; you are hurting the plants more than helping them.
- To water potted plants, take a plastic water bottle, fill it with water and leave it turned upside down in the soil. The water will slowly seep into the soil throughout the day. This can also work for in ground shrubs and plants.
- Test to see if you are watering deeply enough, use the screwdriver test. If you can push a screwdriver into the ground 4 to 6 inches deep, you are reaching the root zone.
What to Water
- Shrubs and trees are on the top of the watering list. Lawns can easily be brought back in the fall with over seeding and aeration. If you have to make a choice, always choose to water your plant material.
- When your trees start dropping leaves, they are telling you they need water. Trees will shed leaves because they cannot support all their growth with the lack of water; this is how they protect themselves. If you are seeing this behavior in your trees, start watering with a trickle hose.
When to Water
- It is best to water first thing in the morning before the hard summer sun is bearing down on your plants.
- It is also good to water after some of the big rains. Once the soil is moist from the rain, the ground can accept more water deep down.
If you are looking for ways to conserve water this summer, check out our earlier blog on rain barrels. Learn how to catch your rain water run-off and use it to water plants and lawns!
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